Arkport Open this Saturday

4 Round Swiss System, Rounds 1 & 2 G/60, rounds 3 & 4 G/90 at Arkport Village Hall, 6 Park Ave., Arkport, NY 14807

PRIZES: $$ GTD : $200 – 100, B/25: (otherwise in proportion) U1800 $100 – 50, U1600 $100 – 50.

ENTRY FEE $30 CASH only at site. Open to all USCF members or join at site.

REGISTRATION: 9 – 9:45 a.m., Saturday, 10/1/11

ROUNDS: 10, 12, 2:15, 5:30

BRING SET, BOARD, AND CLOCK. NONE PROVIDED.

DIRECTOR: RON LOHRMAN of ROCHESTER CHESS CENTER

ADVANCE ENTRIES: make checks payable to F. K. Harris, 1 N. Ridge Dr., Arkport, NY 14807. Info: (607) 295 9858 Directions. Arkport is 5 miles north of Hornell, NY on NY36. From Rochester area take I390 south to Exit 4 at Dansville, follow NY36 south to Arkport. From Buffalo area take I90 to Batavia, NY63 to Geneseo, then I390 as above. From west: I86 to Exit 34N onto NY36 and north to Arkport. From east: I86 to Exit 34N and as from the west. At traffic light on NY36 in Arkport turn east onto East Ave., immediate right onto Main St., first left onto Park St. by U.S. Post Office, and look for Village Hall (fire station) on right. Tournament is in Village Hall Community Room in rear (east end) of Village Hall, NOT in Hornellsville Town Hall (brick building). Food: Cy’s Grocery on Main St., has deli, other restaurants nearby. Motels: Sunshine Motel (good value) (607) 324-4565 about 2 miles south of Arkport. Other motels in area. NO SMOKING, NO COMPUTERS, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

12th Annual Freedom Trail Festival 2011

The Archangel 8 Chess Academy and The Multicultural and International Student Affairs Office at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York, hosted a drop in Chess outing on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Earl W. Brydges Library located at 1425 Main street from Noon until 6pm.

Pictures dont show all the activites but the chess tables were active during the entire Freedom Trail Festival, which celebrates the history of the "underground railroad".

Canadian visitors from Niagara Falls and Toronto, Ontario along with New York City players stopped by for at least two trash talking games. It was fun to watch and play.

Pictured is Lanise who played 5th grader - Jillian, who finished her first chess lessons, arrange the pieces on the board, play a modified game and she was able to solve several Pawn Mower Rook exercises from International Chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley's Pawn Mower Book, Volume 1.

We will have a USCF Open Chess Tournament over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holday on Saturday, January 14, 2012. Please save the date!

Report submitted by Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador

EAST HIGH DARK KNIGHTS SPECIAL RECOGNITION DAY

On September 1, 2011, Dr James Williams, Superintendent of the Buffalo Public School District awarded the Dark Knights Chess Team for their successful performance at the 2011 United States Chess Federation National High School Championships held on May 1, 2011 in Nashville, TN.

The five EHS Dark Knights team members (l-r front) are Justin D. Arrington, Jonathan J. Boone and Joshua A. Hampton, Standing are James W. Hampton, Michael A. Mc Duffie, US Chess Coach and Superintendent of the Buffalo School District, James A. Williams, Ph.D. Other members not present were Karl. D. White, Dr. James J. Paul, National Master Barry Davis and National Master Lionel L. Davis.

After returning home, all the team members were interviewed on the local Buffalo Cable TV at the Apollo building, offered summer jobs, Karl D. White wasn't able to attend because he was working at his summer job at TOPS Markets, Inc., but I was able to speak with his supervisors and TOPS Markets was able to give Karl special recognition at the grocery store.

Classmates hearing of their success at the 2011 USCF National HS Championships, elected their new 2012 Class Officers. Newly elected were President - Joshua Hampton, Vice President - Jonathan Boone and Secretary - James Hampton.

For those who aren't familiar with East High School in Buffalo, it was on the list of underperforming academic schools in the Buffalo School District, located in the Masten district area, where a majority of the students are enrolled in the National Free Lunch program due to its high poverty rate in the district and three out of four African American males dont graduate! Just proves how one successful event can motivate and trigger another. How a positive group of males working together can make a difference and change the vision and lives of others.

The 2012 East High Dark Knights, all in their senior year, will ask for your help and support from the Buffalo Niagara community as they attempt to earn a third national championship team trophy at the 2012 National High School K-12 Championships held on April 13 -15 in Minneapoliis, Minnesota. If you would like to help obtain and secure expenses from corporations and private companies around the area for airfare, hotel accomodations, entry fees and Team Polo Shirts, please email arcangel8chess@yahoo.com with your suggestions or comments.

I want to say "THANK YOU", to the Dark Knights who made a commitment and completed the journey, to all those who contributed behind the scenes in their support and efforts to raise funds, donated funds and resources, other players who were opponents to the Dark Knights in tournament competition, everything and everyone helped make this happen.

SAVE THE DATE - NATIONAL CHESS DAY CELEBRATION TOURNAMENT will be held at the Buffalo & Erie County Main Branch Library, located on Lafayette in Downtown Buffalo, NY on Sunday, October 9, 2011. Games will start at Noon until 4pm. This is a FREE Chess event where the players of all ages and levels are invited! Players will be placed in either Adult or Scholastic sections. There will be an USCF Open rated section (USCF membership is required), 4 Rounds, Swiss, Game 30. This will also feature an All Girls K-12 Scholastic Championship (Unrated). If you are interested in participating, please email reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com no later than midnight on Friday, October 7, 2011, with full name, Grade, USCF number and telephone.

Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador

Women's FIDE Master Undefeated CHAMPION - Buffalo FIDE Summer Chess Festival 2011

The Buffalo FIDE Summer Chess Festival has its first female undefeated Champion, Anna V. Levina, Womens FIDE Master. Anna came in from Cornell University, Ithaca New York to claim the new crown with a total of 4.5 pts out of 5 pts.

International Master, Kenneth W. Regan, Ph.d, 2011 and 2010 Mayor's Cup FIDE Champion, Michael A. Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador and Founder of The Archangel 8 Chess Academy both welcome and congratulate the new 2011 Buffalo FIDE Summer Chess Festival Champion, Anna V.Levina. International Master, Brian M. Hartman from Toronto, Ontario Canada placed second with 4 points out of 5 games. There was a three way tie for third place with 3 pts were Mark J Clark, Jamestown New York, John N. Zilliox, Buffalo New York and Daniel F. Johnston, Rochester New York.

Upset Leaders for the festival were; Anna V. Levina with 363 pts, John N. Zilliox with 164 pts, James P. Davis with 120 pts, Daniel F. Johnston with 32 pts and Erik W. Lubas with 27.5 points.

Highlighted matches were as follows; Anna V. Levina, Womens FIDE Master defeated Brian M. Hartman, International Master for 363 pts, John N. Zilliox defeated Mark J. Clark, National Master for 164 pts, James P. Davis, Esq. draws David S. Miller for 120 pts, Daniel F. Johnston defeated David S. Miller for 32 pts and Erik W. Lubas draws John N. Zilliox for 27.5 pts. Mark J. Johnson from University of Buffalo had to withdraw for personal reasons.

We are looking forward to the Buffalo FIDE Fall Chess Festival 2011 which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 15th and 16th, 2011 at the Gloria J Parks Community Center, 3242 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214. The "anticipated" short list of 10 Open section players who are scheduled to appear are International Master, Kenneth W. Regan, Ph.d, 2011 Buffalo "Mayor's Cup" FIDE Champion, 2011 Buffalo FIDE Summer Chess Festival Champion and Women's FIDE Master, Anna V. Levina(Cornell University), International Master, Brian M. Hartman(Toronto Canada), John N. Zilliox, Erik W. Lubas, James P. Davis, Esq., David S. Miller, Harish Srinvasan, Bryan Castro and Douglas Dubose. Online advance discount early entries are due by October 8, 2011 where the entry fee is $55 or $75 USD Cash at the door with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

We hope you will mark your calendars for the Kickoff of the Fall/Winter Chess season and remember starting in November 2011, we will be at the Main Place Mall, Upper Level, 390 Main St, Buffalo, NY, every third Saturday of each month for 4 Rounds, Swiss, USCF rated, Game 50 tournaments. Help us to continue to grow the Buffalo Niagara Chess Community Chess Club, with the Tell a Friend, Bring a Friend Chess referral program.

Thank you to everyone who helped us in making this Summer Chess Festival 2011 an historic and successful event. Special "Thanks" to Vic Bahl, Douglas Dubose, Bryan Castro, Robert Simpson, Simpson & Simpson, LLC, Tony Kimbrough, Glenn Westcott, Emory Parrish, James J Paul, OD, James Gibson and Kenneth W. Regan, Ph.d, who came as spectators to view some of the matches.

Final report submitted by Michael A. Mc Duffie, Chief Arbiter and USCF Tournament Director.

Day One - Buffalo September FIDE Chess Festival 2011

An exciting day is now in the historical archives for Day One of the Buffalo September FIDE Chess Festival. Some of the historical stats are visiting Chess players from Ithaca NY, Toronto Ontario, Welland Ontario, Jamestown NY, Fredonia NY, and Rochester NY, the first Woman FIDE Master, first Canadian International Master and 4 FIDE rated players, brought excitement to the Gloria J Parks Community Center, Buffalo New York, The Gateway to the World Chess Federation - FIDE.

Results of the Buffalo September U1500 Section, hosted 10 players in a 5 rounds, Swiss, USCF Rated, Game 50 format. We want to first welcome returnee Canadian Vinay Sharma(1419) from Welland, Ontario who was the highest rated player of the section, Scott Zdunczyk and Mark J Johnson from University of Buffalo Chess Club, Lucas A. Seybold who drove in from Fredonia NY, Trevor D. Cohn, Urban Knights Chess Club, 8th grader playing up from the Scholastic K-12 and Diane M. Ruminski from The Urban Queens and Knights Chess Club member, our only female in the U1500 section.

The Champion of the Buffalo September U1500 Chess Festival was Kevin N. Roulhac, Urban Knights Chess Club member posted 4 out of 5 to win the section and top prize. Tied for second was Vinay Sharma and Adam Chelpinski with 3.5pts.

Top U1500 Upset Leaders were Lucas A. Seybold (1024) with 687 pts, Trevor D. Cohn(1146) with 241 pts , Jerome J. Green(1138) with 188 pts, Kevin N. Roulhac(1240) with 176 pts and Adam Chelpinski(1416) with 1.5 pts. Highlight Upsets were Lucas A. Seybold defeated Canadian Vinay Sharma(1419)for 395 pts, Jerome J Green defeated Glenn Conlin(1326) for 188 pts, Kevin N. Roulhac defeated Adam Chelpinski(1416) for 176 pts, Trevor D. Cohn defeated Michael A. Mc Duffie(1297) for 151 pts and Adam Chelpinski draws Vinay Sharma(1419) for 1.5pts.

Highlights in the Buffalo Open FIDE Section where 10 players are competing for the Top Cash prizes. There is a three way tie for first place and all have 2.5pts out of 3 are Womens FIDE Master Anna Levina(2087), returnee John N. Zilliox(1870), and Erik W. Lubas(1815), from Kenmore NY.

Russian born, Womens FIDE Master Anna V. Levina defeated Brian M. Hartman(2450), International Master from Toronto Canada, John N. Zilliox defeated National Master Mark Clark(2034) from Jamestown, NY and Erik W. Lubas draws John N. Zilliox(1870). Other players with 2pts are International Master Brian M. Hartman and Mark J. Clark.

Welcome to James P. Davis, Esq., Urban Knights Chess Club, our monthly U1500 Champion at the Main Place Mall, returning to the USCF is Mark J Johnson(1785) and John N. Zilliox(1870), Womens FIDE Master Anna Levina(2087) from Central New York, and Daniel F Johnston(1660) from the Rochester Chess Center, Rochester NY.

The FIDE Final Rounds 4 and 5 starts today at 9:30am and 2pm, come and join us and see who our World Chess Federation FIDE Buffalo Champion will be?

Special Thanks goes to Simpson and Simpson, LLC for the pictures of this special event. James Lyon and Laura Cohn were the only 2 players to show for the Scholastic K-12 but that section was cancelled due to lack of players.

Please SAVE the DATE for the Buffalo October FIDE Fall Chess Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 15th and October 16, 2011, Gloria J Parks Community Center, 3242 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214, a two day Special Event, 5 Rounds, FIDE and USCF Open rated, Swiss, Game 2 hours. Advance discounted entry fee is $55 or $75 USD Cash Only, please reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com.

Submitted by Mc Duffie, Chief Arbiter, FIDE - World Chess Federation

REMIINDER - Buffalo Summer FIDE Chess Festival 2011

The Buffalo FIDE Summer Chess Festival is still accepting registrations for the Tournament on Saturday, Sept 17th and Sunday, Sept. 18th, held at the Gloria J Parks Community Center, 3242 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. There was a confusing email that some misread about the Main Place Mall. We will return to the Main Place Mall in November 2011 - 2012 winter season.

Please register online with full name, USCF number, section and telephone with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com no later than midnight on Friday, Sept. 16th, 2011 for the advance discount entry fee.

There is limited offstreet lighted parking on Heath Street behind the community center.

All chess players in the Open and U1500 sections must report no later than 9:30am. All games will start promptly at 10am. Open section scheduled games are 10am, 2:30pm and 7pm on Saturday. Sunday Open scheduled games are 9:30am and 2pm.

The U1500 section games will start at 10am, Noon, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm.

There will be a Scholastic K-12 section, 4 rounds, Swiss, Game 30. Trophies will be awarded to the Top 4 players. All scholastic players are to report by 10:30am and games will start at 11am, Noon, 1pm and 2pm.

We still have room for more chess players in all sections to participate.

Sorry for any confusion regarding this special event.

All Ukrainian finals as in 2002?

or it will be all Russian finals? Or mixed one? What is your prediction? And who will be unlucky 4th? see semi-finals

Copeland, Davis tie for 1st in Sardinia

Barry Davis and Sam Copeland drew against each other in round 3 and ended up tied for 1st in the Sardinia tournament last Saturday.

Due to the large turnout (thanks everyone!) the tournament was extended from 3 to 4 rounds. Even though the time control was lowered to G/30, there were some excellent games played

Ryan Madden won his first 3 games but hung a rook against Barry in the endgame in Rd 4 and finished 3rd. Sam beat Glenn Westcott in Rd 4.

Pat Patterson and Bob Simpson finished with 2.5, while Justin Craddock, Chris Darling, and Steve Baer had 2pts.

Bob Simpson won the u1500 class prize with Chris Darling and Steve Baer tying for 2nd.

In the scholastic section James Lyon from Hamburg won with 4pts. Max Peters and Zach Madden had 3.5 and Wes darling finished with 3pts. Also participating were Todd Thompson and in his first tournament Sean Taggart.

Due to the Arkport( located near Hornell,NY) tournament Oct 1, there will be no tournament next month. see you in November!

Women's FIDE Master Joins Chess Festival

On Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th, 2011, the Buffalo September FIDE Chess Festival has an historic moment, its first Womans FIDE Master, rated 2087, Anna Levina, who will challenge the Toronto, Canadian International Master, Brian Hartman. Thanks for spreading the word to all FIDE rated Chess players to join us. There is still time for you to make your reservation. Pictured is Anna Levina who grew up in the U.S.S.R., was trained by her father, was the only woman on the Duke University Chess Team for the Pan American Intercollegiate Tournament that was held in Miami, Fl and has competed at the United States Chess Championships in Las Vegas, NY in 2003.

The Buffalo September FIDE Chess Festival is a two day special event, 5 Rounds,Swiss, 10 Enhanced Grand Prix Points, FIDE and USCF rated, Game 120.

The advance discount entry fee deadline has been extended until Saturday, September 10th, in light of the New York State Chess Championships are completing this weekend. The Advance discount entry fee is $55 or $75 Cash at the door.

Guaranteed Cash Prizes are Open section - $400, $150, $100, U2100 - $125, U1800 -$100. Game Schedule: Saturday, September 17 at 10am, 2:30pm and 7pm, Sunday, September 18th at 9:30am and 2pm.

The U1500 Section which will be held only on Saturday, September 17th, will be a 5 Rounds, Swiss, USCF rated, Game 50. Games will begin at 10am, Noon, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. Cash Prizes are $100, $80 and $60, Advance discounted entry fee $25 v $35 Cash at the door.

Star K-12 Scholastic Section will host a 4 Rounds, Swiss, Game 30 with Trophies to the Top 4 players.

Advance discount online registrations with reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com by Saturday, September 10th, entries after Septemeber 10th will be $75 Cash at the door.

Thanks for all your help and support making Buffalo, New York the gateway to International Chess!

Submitted by Mc Duffie, Chess Ambassador

Kramnik on chess, Anand, Topalov...

About Anand: I always considered him to be a colossal talent, one of the greatest in the whole history of chess. Each champion has had some sort of speciality, and his is creating counterplay in any position out of absolutely nowhere. He’s got an amazing ability to constantly stretch himself so that even in some kind of Exchange Slav he nevertheless manages to attack something and create something. He also plays absolutely brilliantly with knights, even better than Morozevich – if his knights start to jump around, particularly towards the king, then that’s that, it’s impossible to play against and they’ll just sweep away everything in their path. I noticed it’s better to get rid of them when you’re playing against him. =============================================================== In general, he’s improved a great deal in recent years, at some point after 2002. He’s a chess player of genius, but previously he didn’t work enough, by and large. ========================================================== Q. What’s going on with Topalov just now? ==== I don’t know. It’s not even a matter of his having a bad period. I don’t understand why he’s not playing just now. After all, you usually get out of that by playing, and if you play only one tournament every 6 months it’s very hard to get back into the rhythm. Of course he’s a phenomenal player, but it’s clear that he’s out of form and has suffered a real decline of late. His main problem, I think, is that for some reason he doesn’t want to play. If you do want to play then you can always find an option. ============================================================= For 1st part of the Tkachiev's interview with Kramnik click here: http://whychess.org/en/node/1605